Rapid growth and innovation of the technologies we use is a fact of life today. In a world that is becoming moreconnected and more social, this advancement is having a profound impact on people’s lives – from the way they shareto how they learn. Nowhere is this shift clearer than in schools. Social networking can have a productive function ineducation. When confrontations arise, social networks empower people to raise issues and address them together.The transparency enabled by social media can also create positive social norms that impact kids online and off.However, with the opportunity afforded by exciting new technologiescomes a new responsibility for people to learn how to use them safely.School counselors are on the front lines, helping kids navigate thisnew and changing world. They play a vital role in helping studentslearn to make safe, smart and responsible choices online. Whether helping students understand the impact of sharing personalinformation or address incidents of bullying, school counselors arehelping to create a new generation of “digital citizens.”If you are a school counselor and have never used Facebook, we encourage you to experiment with it so that youcan better understand why your students value it and so you can be prepared to counsel them on issues that mightarise. Adults who teach teens to drive do so having years of experience themselves; we think it’s prudent to use andunderstand the technologies your students are using.There are also many ways in which your role as a school counselor overlaps with issues that teachers face in theclassroom. In the spring of 2011, Facebook collaborated with education experts Linda Fogg Phillips, Derek E. Baird,and Dr. BJ Fogg to publish the Facebook Guide for Educators that can be found inFacebook’s Family Safety Center .We encourage you to reference it as a supplement to this guide.We know that as a school counselor you face many issues in your job. We created this guide to help you better understand Facebook, so you can more effectively address and resolve any problems that may arise.

“I find that I am more willing to allow mystudents to use technology in the classroomonce I feel confident they understandthe positive and negative consequences.Educators can empower students to be safeand smart online.”

Bill Snow, Pittsburgh, PA

Facebook for School Counselors3

School Policies for Internet and Social Media Use

One role you may encounter as a school counselor is helping craft your school’s policy for Internet use in general andsocial media use in particular. Typically, this is an area where teachers, school counselors, school administrators – andsometimes families and students – get involved. As the Facebook Guide for Educators discussed, Stanford University took a novel approach to creating its socialmedia policy. In 2008, nearly the entire Stanford student population was on Facebook, yet the university had no policyabout social networking on campus and no discussion about how use of the site could enhance learning. In response,the administration brought together student and faculty groups from all over campus to discuss how social mediashould be used to achieve university goals. Today, this group still meets four times a year to discuss the constantlychanging world of social media and to update university policy.Stanford’s well-rounded approach to creating a social media policy is a great example for any school to follow whencreating its own policy. A key to this model’s success is bringing many different stakeholders together and meetingregularly to review the policy and keep it up to date as technology changes. Additionally, in developing your school’spolicy, we recommend considering several aspects including access, communication, collaboration, legal requirementsand the policies of any site or service.

For a full list of resources we encourage you to check out thesesample policies.It is not only important to know your own school’s policy, but to understand Facebook’s policy as well, so you candiscuss it with your students. Facebook grants people the opportunity to use its site provided they meet the age criteriaand adhere toFacebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (SRR). In addition, students should be required toreadFacebook’s Community Standards. Coupling the privilege and responsibility elements of using social networkingsites is a critical cognitive step in developing socially responsible digital citizens. As a school counselor, you may be on the front line in addressingcases where students fail to follow rules the school has set.Understanding Facebook’s SRR, how to use the service itself, andthe school’s acceptable use policy, are critical elements in your

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world in which your students are comfortable. If you embrace their

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common ground.

Areas to Consider for Your School’s Policy

Is your school’s position on Internet access and use up to date?Does your policy show school staff how to preserve their online privacy while using social networks in theclassroom?Does your school’s policy outline how to teach students about online privacy? Are acceptable social media policies, including consequences for misuse, provided to the students andtheir parents caregivers?Are the age guidelines of social media websites that your school uses articulated and enforced?

“The biggest issue I have with principalsis overreaction. When one teacher foundthat cyberbullying was occurring she calledme to see if she should call the police. Weneed to establish consistent policies andcommunicate to all involved parties.”